The genus Microcerotermes (Isoptera : Termitidae) in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

Abstract

The genus Microcerotermes Silvestri is revised in an area covering New Guinea, the Bismarck Islands and the Solomon Islands. The presence and status of M. biroi (Desneux), M. papuanus Holmgren and M. repugnans Hill are confirmed. Microcerotermes brevior (Desneux), formerly treated as a subspecies or a synonym of M. biroi, is raised to specific rank. Microcerotermes piliceps Snyder, formerly considered a junior synonym of M. biroi, is recognised as valid; M. umbritarsus Hill and M. froggatti Hill are transferred from the synonymy of M. biroi to that of M. piliceps. The Australian species, M. taylori Hill, is reported from southern New Guinea. Four new species: M. luluai, sp. nov., M. cupreiceps, sp. nov.,M. bouilloni, sp. nov. and M. flyensis, sp. nov. are described. For each of the ten species recorded from our study area, all castes are described or redescribed, diagnostic characters are outlined, and a distribution map is given. Comparisons are also made with related species from adjacent regions. An identification key, based on the soldier and worker castes, is provided. We hypothesise that the New Guinean Microcerotermes fauna is of mixed Australian/southeast Asian origin.